‘Creepiest’ Illinois Urban Legend Is An Hour From Rockford
If you're one of those people that hates anything related to death, yet so can't stop reading about this related to it, then we're alike. This story gave me the chills so much I had to keep reading. If you feel so inclined, the location mentioned in this article is just shy an hour from Rockford.
The location is Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, IL.
This peaceful, well maintained final resting place is home to the most famous urban legend in Illinois. According to Thrillist.com, Mt. Carmel Cemetery is the final resting place of Julia Buccola Petta, a.k.a. The Italian Bride, who died in 1921 during childbirth.
The story, according to a Chicago ghost hunter, says when Julia died her mother had nightmares for years about Julia screaming for her grave to be opened. And, after six years passed, her coffin was exhumed and opened. Legend is Julia Buccola Petta's appearance was completely the same as when she was buried six years prior. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Well here is where it gets weird. Her mother took a photograph of her daughter before being reburied and, allegedly, this photo in one of two on her grave monument.
It get's plain spooky now. Apparently, there is plenty of paranormal activity, according to Thrillist.com.
Reports of unusual activity cover everything from the smell of fresh flowers near the gravesite in the dead of winter to the ghostly figure of a woman in white roaming the cemetery in the dead of night.
No. Thank. You. It's no surprise this urban legend made it to the top of the list of creepiest urban legends in Ilinois. I won't be going there, by the way. I get uncomfortable driving by cemeteries with lights at gravesites.... like New Milford Cemetery. For whatever reason, it really creeps me out.
You can read more from the ghost hunter by here.
[H/T Thrillist]
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